Portable bathing device.



W. G. CALLAHAN. PORTABLE BATHING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED snrmzv, 1909. mmnwnn NOV. 21, 1910.

996,453. Patented June 27, 1911.

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.W. U. CALLAHAN. PORTABLE BATHING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1909. RENEWED NOV. 21, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented June 27, 1911.

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WARREN G. GALLAHAN, 0F LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

PORTABLE BATHING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 27, 1911.

Application 'filed September 27, 1909, Serial No. 519,724. Renewed November 21, 1910. Serial No. 593,505.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARREN C. CALI-A- HAN, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of J eiferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Bathing Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de scription of the invention, such as Wlll enable others skilled in the art to which 11'. appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a portable bathing device.

The object of the invention is to provide a portable device which may be used to catch the drip water when taking a sponge bath, thus keeping the water from flowmg on the floor, and consists of two parts, namely, a hoop and a piece of rubber or water proof cloth which is spread over the hoop and is depressed so as to form a shallow tub or receptacle for the water. By this construction, after completing the bath, the rubber or water proof cloth is gathered up by the four corners and the water poured into wash basin or slop jar. The hoop is made in straight, flexible sections so that they may be bent to form the hoop or may be folded up, one flat against the other, into compact form, so that the hoop may be carried in a valise when traveling.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the device; Fig. 2 is a central transverse section thereof; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the coupled ends of the hoop; Fig. 1 is a horizontal section taken on line 44 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of a portion of the ends of two adjacent sections of the hoop; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section, taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the hoop held in approximately elliptical form instead of in circular form; Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the stay member; and Fig.-

10 is a detail perspective view of the hoop folded up. 4

Referring to the drawings for a more particular description of the invention, the device comprises a hoop 1 and a piece of rubber, canvas or other flexible, water proof material 2, which is arranged over the hoop.

The hoop is formed of a plurality of flexible sections 3, of spring metal, wood, celluloid, fiber, rubber or other material possessing the requisite flexibility and strength, the meeting ends of the sections being pivotally connected by the tubular or plain rivets l, and being rounded o-fl as at 5, so as not to cut the cloth.

In using the device, the flexible sections 3, are bent into circular form and the free ends of the outer sections detachably connected together. This is accomplished by provid ing the outer or free end of one of the end sections with a loop or keeper 6, through which is passed the free end of the other end section, which is provided with an outwardly bent flange 7, which engages the inner edge of the keeper 6, and is maintained in engagement therewith by the expansive tendency of the hoop. The joined ends of each adjacent pair of sections forming the hoop are punched by a suitable device providing an inwardly extending projection 8 on one section adapted to engage a depression 9, in the other section.

By this construction, when the sections are arranged in position to form the hoop, they are held against any pivotal movement or in alinement.

When the tub is to be used in a sick room where it is desirable to place the patient in a sitting or reclining position, the hoop may be held in elliptical form by means of a stay member 10 of approximately U-shaped form, the cross-piece 11, of wh1ch extends across the bottom of the hoop and the arms 12, of which fit against the opposite sides thereof. Where the hoop is to be placed on the bed where the patient could be rolled into and out of it again it could be formed of a loop of flexible material, such as rope or rubber, of circular or elliptical form, or it may be formed of a single flexible element having its ends connected to form a loop of circular or elliptical form.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Variouschanges in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A portable bathing apparatus comprising a hoop consisting of a series of flexible pivotal'ly connected sections, means for detachably connecting the free ends of the end sections together, and a waterproof cloth arranged over the hoop with its central portion depressed, the sections being provided at their ends with interlocking depressions and projections, whereby they are held in alinement under normal conditions when the sections are bent to form the hoop.

2. A portable bathing apparatus comprising a hoop consisting of a plurality of flexible pivotally connected sections, means of detachable engagement between the free ends of the end sections of the hoop, a water-proof cloth arranged over the hoop, and a U-shaped stay arranged at the center of the hoop with its arms engaging opposite sides thereof, whereby the hoop is held in elliptical form.

3. A portable bathing apparatus, comprising a hoop composed of a series of straight resilient pivoted sections and a water proof cloth arranged over the sections with its central portion depressed to form a shallow tub or receptacle. I 4. A portable bathing apparatus, comprismg a series of straight fiat resilient pivotally connected sections, means for detachably connecting the free ends of the two end sections, whereby the sections may be held in the form of a hoop by self-expansion and a water proof cloth arranged over the hoop 40 with its central portion depressed to form a shallow tub or receptacle.

5. A portable bathing apparatus comprising a series of straight fiat resilient pivotally connected sections, means for detachoverthe hoop with its central portion depressed to form a shallow tub or receptacle, the several sections being pivoted to swing in parallel planes against each other when the free ends of the end sections are disconnected.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WARREN G. CALLAHAN. WVitnesses:

M. W. BERNARDsEN, J. E. CALLAHAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

